Jerry Kill has learned quite a bit about the Gophers football team he inherited in December.

And although the new head coach will learn even more when spring practice begins, some players might not have a chance to stand out.

Kill said Wednesday that some of the Gophers might not participate in spring practice, which begins today, due to issues in the classroom.

âÄúWeâÄôre going to identify those kids that can handle playing spring football and the grind of school right now,âÄù he said. âÄúIf they canâÄôt handle spring football and the grind of school now, how in the heck are they going to handle it in the fall?âÄù

Kill didnâÄôt say how many players would miss practice, but he said he plans to ensure that the student-athletes are going to class and study hall.

The players that represent the Gophers next season will be those who follow what Kill called the âÄúMinnesota Way.âÄù If they play hard and study hard, then they will fit the first-year coachâÄôs system.

One of KillâÄôs most appealing qualities to athletics director Joel Maturi was the academic progress rate of his teams. The most recent Academic Progress Rate of Northern IllinoisâÄô football team, where Kill worked for the past three seasons, was 10th in the nation.

âÄúWhen you donâÄôt go to class and when you canâÄôt be on time âĦ do you want that guy playing a certain position when itâÄôs 4th-and-1?âÄù Kill said.

Today will be the first of 15 practices in which Kill will see the team practice in pads. Entering the workouts, he said nobody has earned a starting job, not even MarQueis Gray.

Gray, who will be a junior next season, came to Minnesota as a heralded quarterback prospect, but he has only completed 8-of-23 pass attempts in his first two seasons. He immediately took a back seat to the experienced Adam Weber and began playing wide receiver last season. Gray was second on the team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns last season.

âÄúHeâÄôs going to be an impact player somewhere,âÄù Kill said of Gray. âÄúIf itâÄôs at quarterback, thatâÄôs great. IâÄôm all for it. But I canâÄôt tell you that today.âÄù

Kill said the same holds true for every position.

âÄúWe will not give away playing time. YouâÄôre going to earn it,âÄù he said. âÄúI donâÄôt care who youâÄôve been in the past. I donâÄôt care how many games you started. It doesnâÄôt matter to me.âÄù

One thing Kill especially plans to emphasize in spring practice is the GophersâÄô lackluster punting unit. Last season Minnesota ranked dead last in the Football Bowl Subdivision in net punting.

âÄúWe better get that turned around or we wonâÄôt win any games,âÄù Kill said.

The Gophers enter spring practice with no major injury concerns, and senior defensive back Kim Royston, who was granted a medical redshirt last season, is 100 percent healthy, Kill said.

As for what the players will see in practice, it will be KillâÄôs way, and he doesnâÄôt see many differences between his transition to Minnesota and those at his past schools.

âÄúYouâÄôre trying to change a culture. YouâÄôve got to capture everybody. YouâÄôve got to get everybody believing,âÄù Kill said. âÄúLosingâÄôs a habit; winningâÄôs a habit. ThereâÄôs a lot of things youâÄôve got to shift, and that isnâÄôt easy.âÄù